6 December 2024
Three very different soft toy Teddies were discharged from my Hospital in the last couple of weeks.
The
largest, 40-something Ted Big, had never before left his owner's side,
and had quite a few holes that needed mending. After a gentle clean, I
tidied up his earlier repairs, gave him new stuffing (leaving a bit of
his old stuffing inside him for sentimental reasons), and
re-embroidered his nose and smile. His owner nearly cried with joy when
she came to collect Ted Big and take him home.
Podgy was smiling rather ruefully when he was admitted, realising
that he a long hospital stay ahead of him. I came to love him dearly
while bringing him back into the shape that his owner remembered from
long ago. With his new stuffing, a new button eye and re-embroidered
nose, smile and eyebrows, Podgy looked very jovial, and was full of
gratitude for the care he had received.
Teddy was tiny compared to the other two patients, and he was also
the easiest of them. All he asked for - and received - was a patch on
his right arm, and off he went back to his busy life in London.
29 November
Bunny was admitted to Sasha's
Teddy Bear Hospital
with just a single injury but a pretty horrific looking one, having
been all by decapitated. Fortunately, it did not take long to sew his
poor head back on. To mark his passing to a new owner (father to
daughter), I made him a new ruby bow instead of his old blue one - and
Bunny hopped away very happy.
Meanwhile Yatsyk the cat, whom I had treated before, did not need any
surgery on his repeat visit. All I had to do was give him a good gentle
clean, as his fur had become rather matted. Yatsyk accepted his
treatment quite gracefully and went back to his owner purring
contentedly.
27 November
The latest patient at Sasha's Teddy Bear
Hospital, 51-year-old Billy, was a rather unusual bear. His
head was furry, but the rest of his fur was a zipped jumpsuit, which he
wore on his pink body.
Billy asked for a new eye and a full
re-stuffing, which I was happy to provide. I also gave him a good
gentle clean, patched him up a bit, mended a couple of holes in his
jumpsuit, and topped up the embroidery on his nose. He left very happy
with his new look.
15 November
Bear Bear had not left
his adoring owner's side for nearly 20 years until the day he
came to Sasha's
Teddy Bear Hospital. Having been cuddled a great deal, he had
become really threadbare, and had lost most of his stuffing. After a
good clean, I gave him some new stuffing and underlined his entire body
with new fabric. His treatment complete, Bear Bear could sit up
properly again, and was ready for many more years of
cuddling!
Another recent patient, 60-year-old Teddy, was certainly in good shape
overall for his age. He did, however, have two obvious problems: no
eyes and no paw pads. Teddy endured surgery with dignity and patience,
and came out looking fresh and dapper. His new faux leather paw pads in
particular gave him a nice vintage look, which he told me he was most
happy with.
5 November
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70-year-old Honey was admitted to my Hospital not long after I treated his brother
Toffie.
In
the course of their long and eventful lives, both brothers had changed
almost beyond recognition. In Honey's case, he had lost both eyes, most
of his stuffing, practically all fur, and a large part of his body - though his
nose and smile were remarkably well preserved.
After an obligatory good clean, I embarked upon extensive reconstructive
surgery, which proved totally successful.
Once he recovered his eyesight, Honey inspected himself in the mirror
and declared that he was happy with what he saw. |
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Here is a reminder of the transformation that Honey's brother
Toffie underwent earlier. To conceal his disfigurement, he had arrived
heavily disguised, so I had to remove his mask and protective clothes
before I could start his treatment. As you can see, by the end of their
treatments the two brothers looked a lot more alike than before.
3 November
My Teddies and I thoroughly
enjoyed being at the Herb
Farm Christmas Market in
Sonning Common these last two days. David and Helen organised the event
really well, the weather did not let us down, and a good time was had
by all!
I said tearful goodbyes to Ashley,
Graham,
Jamie,
Millie,
Oakley
and Reuben,
who were all adopted and left with their new families, and all my
Christmas Bears and Bunnies were sold out long before the Fair closed.
Many visitors
wanted to book their beloved teddies and toys for treatment at Sasha's Teddy Bear
Hospital, so I had to tell them to wait a couple of month
before I re-open the Hospital for new patients.
29 October
I could have sworn that
Cuddlepuff was a dog but his owner called him a bear, and of course he
knows best. In any case, true to his name, Cuddlepuff had
certainly been cuddled a lot, so I had to patch quite a few
holes on his lovely muzzle and his ears. I am quite sure he is now fit
for many more years of cuddling.
There was no doubt about what species another recent patient was. Catty
came to Sasha's
Teddy Bear
Hospital rather limp and with many battle scars. After a good
clean and brushing, I treated her wounds, gave her
new stuffing, and re-embroidered her claws and smile. In the
end she looked a proper cat again, ready to pounce. |
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My old friend Bobble
had serious surgery on his first visit to
my Hospital a couple of year ago. This time, he came for sartorial
rather than surgical help, and I was glad to make him new pyjamas and a
new nightcap (complete with a bobble of course).
20 October
Growly did not look too
ill when
she came to my Hospital,
though her ears and paw pads did require some patching. The most
important part, however, was a new growler, as her original one had
stopped working - and I am sure you will agree that this just won't do
when your name is Growly!
A 60+ patient discharged a bit earlier was registered in the Hospital
log as Teddy. While in hospital, he regained his sight thanks to a pair
of nice new eyes, had all the holes repaired, and was thoroughly
re-stuffed. He looked full of life when discharged, and was very
pleased to return to his family.
An even older patient, 70-year-old Bear, was well preserved for his
age. He just needed to have a few holes patched and some extra
stuffing. Once his treatment was over, he was clearly ready to hug and
be hugged.
18
October
I have made
another Teddy to take to the Herb
Farm Christmas Market in
Sonning Common next month.
Take a look at Hudson,
a sensitive and thoughtful little bear who likes me to read him books
about science.
13 October
40-something Bear was admitted
to Sasha's
Teddy Bear
Hospital for an eye replacement, and I did find him an eye
that was identical to one he had lost. Bear also had his nose and smile
re-embroidered, and a few holes stitched up - not to mention a gentle
clean. I think he looked rather pleased when he was discharged.
Another bear, 66-year-old Big, required more extensive treatment. I
made him four nice new velvet paw pads (which he had chosen
himself), patched and darned all the holes, completely
re-stuffed him, and gave him a new growler. Big was most grateful and
thanked me profusely, having regained the power of speech))
I do not often have elephant patients, so I
was pleased to be able to
help Babar. After a good clean, I rebuilt his trunk, re-covered his
hands and feet, and underlined his skin with new fabric to treat the
holes. When the treatment was finished, Babar looked years younger and
full of energy - to the delight of his owner.
8
October
If you would like to adopt a
one-of-a-kind traditional handmade Teddy - or just to say hello - come
and meet Sasha's Bears
at the Herb Farm Christmas Market in
Sonning Common on 2nd and 3rd November!
Among my Teddies that
you can see there will be
two new ones that I made this month, Luca and Oakley.
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The two of them are good friends, but they
could not be more different.
Luca
is a bit of a poseur, flaunting his beautiful lace collar. He is very
much into art, opera, and all the
finer things in life.
Oakley
is a lot more down to earth. A woollen scarf round his neck, he spends
his time outdoors, getting his paws dirty helping about the garden or
just playing rugby. |
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3 October
Not every patient admitted to Sasha's Teddy Bear
Hospital requires extensive and protracted surgery - some
only stay for a few hours or a couple of days.
Over the past few weeks, I have had a few fairly easy patients. Young
Cottontail had his arm reattached in next to no time. 20-something
Doggy stayed a bit longer, as I had to secure his ears and mend his
nose. Meanwile Pop the
donkey was literally in and out, with a
new eye to replace one he had lost.
2 October
There was magic in the air at
Asquith's Bearpawium
in Henley-on-Thames last night, as my latest Teddy Bear Workshop came
to an end. It is such a pleasure and privilege to contribute to the
arrival into our world of new Teddy Bears!
This time I had seven students, all very able and willing, and over the
course of four weeks we worked together to create seven new Teddies.
Even though everyone was following the same pattern, it was no surprise
that all the
Teddies came out completely different - albeit all absolutely charming.
A special thank you goes to Rachel, Asquith's DIrector of Bears, for
arranging and organising the workshop - and of course to my wonderful
students.
If
you are interested, the next workshop is scheduled for March 2025, and
there are still some spaces available - please contact Asquiths on the
link above for details.
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